International Social Work from Crises to Sustainable Futures (ThRIvE)

Project Title:

Funding Agency: German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

Project Description:

International Social Work from Crisis to Sustainable Futures: Thinking from the Future, Recognizing & Interconnecting the Past, Virtual & Embodied Empowerment in the Present (ThRlvE)

Within the project "ThRlvE", the international and scientific exchange will be further expanded and institutionalized between the Technical University Wurzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS) in Germany, the Modern University for Business and Science (MUBS) in Lebanon, and the German Jordanian University (GJU) in Jordan.

The project's thematic focus is on the professional development of international Social Work (education), which, in view of global challenges, crises, wars and disasters, has to be more international, culturally sensitive while locally-anchored and crisis-resilient. Social Work professionals face major challenges in dealing with contradicting imperatives and uncertain contexts, which are shaped by increasing economic differences, ecological, economic and health crises as well as various forms of group-related enmity and violent extremism. Acknowledging the global interconnectedness of Social Work with professionals acting more and more in crisis contexts, the profession has to adjust its focus, expand its methodological repertoire, integrate further competencies as goals and teaching practices in its study programs. The ideas of sustainability and post-colonial curricula development shed a promising light on this transformative path, offering perspectives, theories and attitudes towards a more just and sustainable Social Work profession.

The goals and activities to be achieved within the scope of this project to foster International Social Work (Education) and the competencies needed are the following: